Memorial honoring Grayling High golf team unveiled

By -
Associated Press -
Saturday, June 14, 2014

GRAYLING, Mich. (AP) - A memorial patio has been unveiled to honor members of a northern Lower Michigan high school golf team involved in a 2013 traffic crash that killed a coach and one of the teenage golfers.

The patio, which has a fireplace and engraved bricks, was dedicated to the Grayling High team and the community Friday night at Grayling Country Club.

Grayling High golf coach Jason Potter, 18-year-old golfer Louis Menard and a woman who was a passenger in the other van died in the April 29, 2013, crash in Kalkaska County. Six other people were hurt.

Five students involved in the crash, as well as Menard’s family, were given scholarships from the golf recovery fund during Friday’s event.

Engraved bricks line the patio with heartfelt messages. The 2013 Grayling High golf roster is flanked by boulders honoring Potter and Menard.

“It’s a good way to end a sad story,” said Jake Hinkle, who was seriously injured in the crash. “Hopefully we can use this to never forget Jason and Louis and the rest of the team and try to move forward.”

Golf was a major form of therapy for Hinkle as he recovered from the accident. He was able to get back on the course this year and even made it to the state finals.

“It kind of made me think about the past and what happened,” said Hinkle, who will enter his senior year this fall, “and it was truly humbling and I’m proud.”